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Jordan Frees No. 2 Figure in Muslim Brotherhood from Prison

January 04, 2016 7:18 AM

Associated Press

FILE -- In this Feb. 15, 2015 file photo, supporters of Zaki Bani Ersheid, a top leader of the Muslim Brotherhood opposition group, hold photos of him, outside the state security court in Amman, Jordan. Bani Ersheid was released on Jan. 4, 2016, after he served over two-thirds of his 18-month prison term for criticizing the United Arab Emirates, an ally of the kingdom.

Jordan on Monday released a top leader of the Muslim Brotherhood opposition group after he served over two-thirds of his 18-month prison term for criticizing the United Arab Emirates, an ally of the kingdom.

Zaki Bani Ersheid's release comes at a time of growing divisions in the Jordanian branch of the pan-Arab Brotherhood, weakening its long-time role as the main political opposition.

In 2015, the Jordanian branch split, with a breakaway faction emphasizing its Jordanian identity and seeking government recognition. Bani Ersheid is the deputy leader of the original Brotherhood, which retains ties to the regional parent movement.

In another sign of internal turmoil, more than 300 activists, including senior members, resigned from the original Brotherhood branch in recent days, in part because of disputes over previous leadership elections, said a spokesman, Murad Adayleh.

The regional movement has also suffered major setbacks, including government crackdowns, since first emerging as the main beneficiary of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

Bani Ersheid was released early Monday, 13 months after his November 2014 arrest, said Adayleh. Bani Ersheid had been sentenced to 18 months after he criticized the UAE for labeling the Brotherhood a terrorist group.

Jordan's government spokesman, Mohammed Momani, said Bani Ersheid "served his time after being sentenced by the court."

Momani and Adayleh said Bani Ersheid did not win early release and that under the Jordanian system, a year-long term means less than 12 months in prison.

The charges against Bani Ersheid came at a time of growing polarization in the region, with some Arab countries such as Egypt and the UAE adopting a harder stance against Islamist groups. The Muslim Brotherhood has been formally banned in Egypt and several Arab Gulf countries.